Toothbrush and dentifrice container unit



25, 1951 s, PARSONS 2,579,695

TOOTHBRUSH AND DENTIFRICE CONTAINER UNIT Filed Oct. 13, 1948 Patented Dec. 25, 1951 OFFICE TOOTHBRUSH AND DEN TIFRICE CONTAIN ERL UN I T Horace S. Parsons, Philadelphia, Pa. Application October 13, 1948, Serial No. 54,287

3 Claims.

A principal object of this invention is to provide. a generally improved unitary assembly of toothbrush and dentifrice container in the form of a compact package.

More specifically an object of the invention is to provide a unitary assembly of the stated type wherein the detachable closure for said container functions also as a means for detachably uniting the container with the toothbrush.

Another object of the invention is to provide a package wherein the closure for the dentifrice container constitutes a, permanent part ofthe toothbrush structure.

ihe invention residesfurther in certain structural details hereinafter described and illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a package made in accordance with the invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are end'views in perspective of the package shown in Fig. 1 illustrating structural details thereof;

Figs. 4 and 5 are views corresponding to those of Figs. 2 and 3 but show the elements of the package partially withdrawn from the casing which constitutes an element of the package;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the handle of the toothbrush showing the manner in which the closure for the dentifrice container is mounted therein;

Fig. '7 is a section on the line 1-4 Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an exploded view illustrating the container detached from the assembly together with a conventional closure for said container;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modification within the scope f the invention; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevational and partial sectional view illustrating still another modification.

With reference to Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive of the drawings, wherein I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention, the package therein illustrated comprises an outer casing l of substantially rectangular form closed at one end and at the four longitudinal sides thereof and open at the opposite end for reception of a unitary assembly comprising a toothbrush 2 and dentifrice container 3. In accordance with the invention it is contemplated that the toothbrush 2,

and container 3 will be normally attached to each other and will be detached only when the toothbrush is to be used so as to permit application of the dentifrice to the brush and so as to leave the toothbrush unencumbered for the brushing operation. So that assurance may be had that the brush and container elements will be reunited after use I prefer,as in the embodi.-., ment under discussion, to form the closure for the container as a non-detachable part ofthe toothbrush structure so that in the act of re placing the closure on the container the brush and container elements are, automatically re-.

turned to their normal unitary condition.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1 the container 3, which may be either of collapsible, rigid or semi-@- rigid type as desired, is of substantially rectangu iar form, as best illustrated in Fig. 8, the con tainer being dimensioned to fit snugly within In the present in ifwhich is definedby an outstanding externally.

threaded neck or nozzle 5. Rotatably supported in the endof the handle portion of 'the fbrus h 2 is .a 1 cap 6 which is threaded internally for enga er.

ment with the threaded neck 5 of the container. As shown in Fig. 7 the cap 6 passes freely through an aperture 1 in the handle 8 of the brush and the projecting end of the cap is provided with a collar 9 which retains the cap on the handle. By inserting the threaded neck in the cap and turning the cap in the handle opening 1 by manipulation of the head portion I2 of the cap, the cap may be threaded onto the collar 5 to close the container and incidentally to attach the container to the toothbrush.

By reference to Fig. 1 it will be noted that the elongated container 3 is diminsioned so that the container may lie at the bristle side of the handle and between the bristles and the outer end of the handle in which the cap 6 is mounted. iThe container 3 and the handle 8 are substantially the same width as shown, for example, in Fig. 4, and with the arrangement described above the container and the brush when joined together form a compact unit which requires for housing a casing not appreciably larger than one that would be required for the brush alone. Thus the lateral dimensions of the casing l are not appreciably greater than would be required were the housing designed to hold the brush only. In the present instance the open end of the easing I is provided in the top and bottom walls with like recesses, l3 and [4 respectively, one of these recesses being adapted to receive the head 12 of the cap 5 when the brush and container unit are inserted in the casing, and the recess M receiving a projection I5 at the bottom of the container 3, as best illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive. By making the recesses l3 and I4 slightly narrower than the transverse dimensions of the head 12 of the cap 6 and the projection IS, the brush and container unit can be frictionally interlocked with the casing. It will be apparent that the containers 3 may be sold separately from the brush with a conventional cap of the general form shown at "5 in Fig. 8, for replacement of containers previously exhausted.

The principle of the device may find other embodiments, such 'for example as those shown in Figs. 9 and 10. In Fig. 9 the casing is indicated by the reference numeral H, the handle of the brush by reference numeral I8, and the dentifrice container, in the form in this instance of a conventional collapsible tube, being indicated by the reference numeral IS. The outer end of the brush handle I8 is provided with a hinged end portion 22 pivctally secured at 23 to the handle proper, and this end portion 22 carries a cap 24 for the container 19. The cap is loosely mounted in the element 22 so that it may be turned freely in the latter to attach the cap to or detach it from the container.

In Fig. 10 the handle 25 of the brush is provided with a tapered projection 26 which is designed to enter the discharge opening 21 of the dentifrice container 28 and to frictionally engage the wall of the opening 27 so as, in effect, to secure the brush and container together. If desired the handle may be recessed around the projection 26 as indicated at 29 and may be provided in the bottom of said recess with a rubber or other suitable gasket 3| to seal the port 21 of the container. V

I claim: 1. A compact package comprising an assembly of a tooth brush having a handle, a container for a dentifrice having a discharge nozzle, and closure means for said nozzle nondetachably secured in the handle so mounted that when the closure is effected the container may lie at the bristle side of and in parallel relation to the brush handle, said closure means being in the form of a tapered projection on the handle adapted for insertion in the discharge nozzle of the container for frictional engagement with the wall of said nozzle, and a casing for said assembly constructed and arranged to preclude possibility of damaging and collapsing said assembly and to prevent separation of the closure means from the nozzle while the assembly occupies the casing.

2. A package according to claim 1 wherein the casing insures closure of the discharge nozzle by having its inside dimensions such that the tapered projection can disengage the nozzle opening only after said container has been withdrawn from the casing.

'3. A package according to claim 2 wherein the casing has recesses at its open end and in the side walls thereof allowing gripping of the container for removal from the casing.

HORACE S. PARSONS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

